About Us
Our Story
Gayle's DancePhase was started in Gayle and Tina's basement 40 years ago! The sisters have grown their Gayle's DancePhase Family every year since. Read below to find out more about our founders and staff.
Staff
Gayle Winnie
Michele Peters
Gayle Winnie
CO-DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF GAYLE’S DANCEPHASE
Our Beloved Miss Gayle passed on January 8, 2022. Her legacy is the home she built here at the studio for our families. The staff at GDP will continue to make sure that's continued as she remains always in our hearts.
Tina Bishop
Michele Peters
Gayle Winnie
CO-DIRECTOR OF GAYLE'S DANCEPHASE
Miss Tina has spent her life pursuing her passion for dance. She has been a part of the studio since it began. Miss Tina’s students have gone on to have wonderful careers is dance and art related fields. She has continued to train with some of the best teachers in the country and she brings that knowledge
CO-DIRECTOR OF GAYLE'S DANCEPHASE
Miss Tina has spent her life pursuing her passion for dance. She has been a part of the studio since it began. Miss Tina’s students have gone on to have wonderful careers is dance and art related fields. She has continued to train with some of the best teachers in the country and she brings that knowledge back to all her classes. Miss Tina is well rounded and teaches all subjects at GDP. Miss Tina is a member of and certified to teach by Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. She is also the Co-Director of the Majestic Dance Ensemble of Michigan.
Michele Peters
Michele Peters
Michele Peters
GAYLE’S DANCEPHASE ADMINISTRATOR
Miss Michele began at Gayle’s as a student of 11 years. She graduated from Oakland University in 2004 with a Bachelors of General Studies degree with a Health Science focus. Michele taught dance for 5 years before taking over the administrator position. If you need help with anything at our studio, Michele
GAYLE’S DANCEPHASE ADMINISTRATOR
Miss Michele began at Gayle’s as a student of 11 years. She graduated from Oakland University in 2004 with a Bachelors of General Studies degree with a Health Science focus. Michele taught dance for 5 years before taking over the administrator position. If you need help with anything at our studio, Michele has the answer or can get it quick. She really understands all aspects of the studio. Miss Michele is now married with one child named Lilly.
Nina Yurkunas
Nina Yurkunas
Michele Peters
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Nina started dancing when she was only 2 years old. She danced for many years as a competitive dancer. When she entered high school, she joined the Pom team and soon became their captain. After high school, Miss Nina attended college at Michigan State University where she graduated in 2005 with a Communications degree
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Nina started dancing when she was only 2 years old. She danced for many years as a competitive dancer. When she entered high school, she joined the Pom team and soon became their captain. After high school, Miss Nina attended college at Michigan State University where she graduated in 2005 with a Communications degree. This is Miss Nina's 24th year of teaching dance. She teaches both competition and non-competition classes. Her dances have won many high point awards and judges awards including, Precision Awards, Best Costume, Best in Category, along with many Overalls. Miss Nina is married and mother to a son, Beck and two daughters, Willow and Lydia.
Shelby Bishop
Nina Yurkunas
Alyssa Fagnani
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Shelby graduated from Central Michigan University in December 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Art degree majoring in Communications and minoring in Marketing. She was a dance team member at CMU for 2 years and a Captain her final season. Before starting her teaching career at Gayles’s, Shelby was a student for 17 years perf
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Shelby graduated from Central Michigan University in December 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Art degree majoring in Communications and minoring in Marketing. She was a dance team member at CMU for 2 years and a Captain her final season. Before starting her teaching career at Gayles’s, Shelby was a student for 17 years performing in all styles of dance. Recently Shelby started her own dance team for dancers who are not offered UDA dance teams at their high schools and became the head coach of the Oakland All-Stars Dance team. Miss Shelby loves spending time with her family especially her (fur) baby Millie.
Alyssa Fagnani
Nina Yurkunas
Alyssa Fagnani
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Alyssa has been dancing since the age of 2. Being the daughter of our founder, Miss Alyssa had been born to dance! She danced competitively at GDP her entire life where she continued on at UofM. Spending all 4 years on UofM's dance team and graduating with a dance degree, Miss Alyssa has lots of love for the art. S
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Alyssa has been dancing since the age of 2. Being the daughter of our founder, Miss Alyssa had been born to dance! She danced competitively at GDP her entire life where she continued on at UofM. Spending all 4 years on UofM's dance team and graduating with a dance degree, Miss Alyssa has lots of love for the art. She has recently gotten married and can't wait to continue to pass along her passion for dance to the GDP dancers.
Emily Bock
Rachel Jiménez
Alex Bernas
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Emily has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She trained at Gayle's DancePhase for 15 years and was on a competition team for seven years. She went on to Grand Valley State University where she earned a minor in dance! Miss Emily has been teaching dance and tumbling since graduating college in 2013 and loves getting to teach where she grew up dancing!
Alex Bernas
Rachel Jiménez
Alex Bernas
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Alex graduated from Grand Valley State University in April 2019 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Radiation Therapy. She was a member of the GVSU dance team for four years and was a Captain for her final two years. She is currently a full-time radiation therapist at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Flint. Alex star
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Alex graduated from Grand Valley State University in April 2019 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Radiation Therapy. She was a member of the GVSU dance team for four years and was a Captain for her final two years. She is currently a full-time radiation therapist at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Flint. Alex started dancing at the age of 3 and was on the competitive team at Gayle’s for 10 years. This is her second year back teaching at Gayle’s and she is also an assistant coach of the Oakland All-Stars Dance Team.
Rachel Jiménez
Rachel Jiménez
Brittany Wenson
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Rachel has been dancing her entire life and has a true passion for both dancing and teaching. During her years as a competitive dancer she earned several national titles, including a UDA national championship. She was also the Varsity Pom & Dance team coach at South Lyon East High School for the past seven years.
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Rachel has been dancing her entire life and has a true passion for both dancing and teaching. During her years as a competitive dancer she earned several national titles, including a UDA national championship. She was also the Varsity Pom & Dance team coach at South Lyon East High School for the past seven years. Rachel is a University of Detroit Mercy graduate and is currently a Nurse in the ER at Beaumont Hospital. Rachel is ecstatic to be joining the GDP family and cannot wait for 2022/2023 season to begin!
Brittany Wenson
Brittany Wenson
Brittany Wenson
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Brittany Wenson is a graduate from Michigan State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business with a focus in Event Planning and Management. Brittany comes to us with over 24 years of dance training in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and pom. While at Michigan State Brittany was a member of
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Brittany Wenson is a graduate from Michigan State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business with a focus in Event Planning and Management. Brittany comes to us with over 24 years of dance training in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and pom. While at Michigan State Brittany was a member of the MSUDT for all four years where she danced on the sidelines of the globally recognized football and basketball teams. In addition to this, Brittany was able to travel to countless football Bowl Games and NCAA tournaments. When she was not cheering on the sidelines the dance team would compete each year in Orlando Florida at the UDA nationals where her team was nationally ranked at the collegiate level. After graduating, Brittany became a member of the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders for three years where she achieved the role of captain. Being apart of the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders not only allowed Brittany to dance in the NFL but allowed her to dance along side Lil John, Mike Posner, and Brothers Osborne. Brittany was also able to further her training on the professional level and head to Las Vegas for the Pro Action Dance Intensive. When not dancing herself, Brittany is the head coach of Mercy Varsity Dance Team where she has grown the program over the last five years to be placed in the top three at UDA regional competitions and recognized on the UDA national level as semi-finalist in Orland Florida. Brittany has been lucky enough to choreograph for her college dance team, professional cheer team, countless studios, and high school dance teams, and she is beyond excited to continue where it all started for her here at Gayle’s DancePhase!
Fallon Johnson
Brittany Wenson
Fallon Johnson
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Fallon has danced since she was 2 years old, and received her BFA in Dance from New York University. At NYU she performed work by Sonya Tayeh, MADBOOTS Dance, Paul Taylor, and many others. She is very passionate about choreography as well as building a strong technical base, and is excited to bring her skillset back to
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Fallon has danced since she was 2 years old, and received her BFA in Dance from New York University. At NYU she performed work by Sonya Tayeh, MADBOOTS Dance, Paul Taylor, and many others. She is very passionate about choreography as well as building a strong technical base, and is excited to bring her skillset back to GDP.
After dancing at Gayles DancePhase for 10 years she is beyond excited to return to the teaching staff this year!
Sara Graichen
Sara Graichen
Sara Graichen
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Sara began dancing at 2 years old and started dancing competitively at 6 years old. She has trained at Gayle’s DancePhase for 15 years and began teaching dance as a Junior in high school. She continued dancing in college on Eastern Michigan University’s Dance Team for the 2017-18 season. In 2022, Miss Sara graduated E
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Sara began dancing at 2 years old and started dancing competitively at 6 years old. She has trained at Gayle’s DancePhase for 15 years and began teaching dance as a Junior in high school. She continued dancing in college on Eastern Michigan University’s Dance Team for the 2017-18 season. In 2022, Miss Sara graduated EMU with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Comprehensive. Sara has a love and passion for teaching children of all ages, inside the school classroom and the dance studio. Miss Sara is ecstatic to begin another fun and exciting year of dance!
Sloan Rousos
Sara Graichen
Sara Graichen
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Sloan grew up in Commerce Township, Michigan where she started dancing at the age of four. She grew up training in many styles such as jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and hip hop. After graduating high school she attended Western Michigan University to pursue her career in dance. She earned a Bachelor of A
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Sloan grew up in Commerce Township, Michigan where she started dancing at the age of four. She grew up training in many styles such as jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and hip hop. After graduating high school she attended Western Michigan University to pursue her career in dance. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in dance, and a minor in holistic health. Also while pursuing her dance degree, she was the artistic director of a hip hop company called Hip Hop Connxion Michigan, and taught and choreographed at many dance studios and high schools. After graduating college in 2019, she chose to make her main focus teaching and choreographing, as she is currently doing so and traveling as a judge for Hall of Fame Dance Challenge.
Rachel Munzenberger
Rachel Munzenberger
Rachel Munzenberger
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Rachel has been dancing since the age of two at Gayle's DancePhase. She trained competitively for 15 years. She is a graduate of Michigan State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies. While at MSU, Rachel was a four year member of the MSU Dance Club and spent two yea
DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Miss Rachel has been dancing since the age of two at Gayle's DancePhase. She trained competitively for 15 years. She is a graduate of Michigan State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies. While at MSU, Rachel was a four year member of the MSU Dance Club and spent two years as the club's Secretary. She has had the opportunity to travel and take classes from many well known choreographers. Miss Rachel is so happy to be back teaching dance at the studio where her love for began!
Mickayla Stuckey
Rachel Munzenberger
Rachel Munzenberger
TUMBLING INSTRUCTOR
Miss Mickayla grew up in Union City Indiana, where she was a competitive dance and gymnast since the age of 3. Miss Mickayla was a competitive dancer at Dixie's Dance Studio located in Winchester Indiana from ages four to eighteen. As well as doing competitive dance Mickayla also did competitive gymnastics at Cincinn
TUMBLING INSTRUCTOR
Miss Mickayla grew up in Union City Indiana, where she was a competitive dance and gymnast since the age of 3. Miss Mickayla was a competitive dancer at Dixie's Dance Studio located in Winchester Indiana from ages four to eighteen. As well as doing competitive dance Mickayla also did competitive gymnastics at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. She was a six year level ten gymnast and made it to Junior Olympic Nationals four times throughout her gymnastics career. She now attends Eastern Michigan University on a full ride scholarship for gymnastics, where she majors in Communications with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She has qualified on 5 separate occasions for the Junior Olympic Nationals. Miss Mickayla is very excited to bring her knowledge and outgoing personality to Gayle's Dance Phase!